Although many cultures rely on the purity of white to carry brides throughout their wedding day, the Korean culture instead opts for color. During a traditional Korean wedding, both the bride and the groom wear elaborate costumes in bold, bright colors. Traditional Korean wedding dress is intricate, colorful and vibrant.
Bride's Wonsam
Traditionally, a Korean bride wears a Wonsam and a Hanbok on her wedding day. As explained by LifeInKorea.com, the Wonsam is “an elaborate topcoat with flowing sleeves.” The outside of the garment is made with red silk, while the inside is made with blue silk. The sleeves are often striped with vibrant colors. Beautiful embroidered flowers embellish the front and back of the Wonsam, symbolizing nobleness, wealth and longevity.
Bride's Hanbok
This overcoat is worn over the hanbok, which consists of a skirt and a shirt. The shirt typically features a short length and long sleeves, while the skirt features a high waist and a hem that falls to the floor. The Korean bride might also tie a silk belt, the daedae, around her overcoat. This belt is traditionally made of red silk with gold embroidery.
Hairstyle
For a traditional Korean wedding hairstyle, the bride’s hair is tightly pulled back and away from the face. The entire length of hair is gathered and tied at the nape of the neck. Other Korean wedding hairstyles involve more elaborate tiered styles, which involve gathering the hair into a large bun. A long hair pin featuring a dragon’s head decorated the hairstyle. Some Korean brides also choose to wear a crown or black cap embellished with jewels.
Accessories
On her wedding day, the Korean bride wears minimal makeup. However, she will have three red circles painted on her face, one on each cheek and one on her forehead. According to WeddingsAtWork.com, these small red circles are meant to “ward off evil spirits.” Korean brides wear white socks and silk shoes. These shoes, which resemble the shape of a boat, feature elaborately embroidered designs in rich colors.
Groom's Dress
The Korean groom wears three main articles of clothing: the paji, cheogori and dalryeongp’o. His pants, the paji, feature wide, baggy legs. Two strips of cloth tie the pant legs around the ankles, ensuring the pants remain inside the boots. The groom’s shirt, the cheogori, has loose sleeves and typically falls to the waist or slightly below. The dalryeongp’o is the groom’s jacket, which he wears over the shirt and pants. The jacket is traditionally colored blue or maroon with an intricate embroidery of two cranes near the middle of the chest. A belt is worn over the jacket to keep it in place. The groom wears a simple pair of black cloth boots, known as Mokwha.
Bride's Wonsam
Traditionally, a Korean bride wears a Wonsam and a Hanbok on her wedding day. As explained by LifeInKorea.com, the Wonsam is “an elaborate topcoat with flowing sleeves.” The outside of the garment is made with red silk, while the inside is made with blue silk. The sleeves are often striped with vibrant colors. Beautiful embroidered flowers embellish the front and back of the Wonsam, symbolizing nobleness, wealth and longevity.
Bride's Hanbok
This overcoat is worn over the hanbok, which consists of a skirt and a shirt. The shirt typically features a short length and long sleeves, while the skirt features a high waist and a hem that falls to the floor. The Korean bride might also tie a silk belt, the daedae, around her overcoat. This belt is traditionally made of red silk with gold embroidery.
Hairstyle
For a traditional Korean wedding hairstyle, the bride’s hair is tightly pulled back and away from the face. The entire length of hair is gathered and tied at the nape of the neck. Other Korean wedding hairstyles involve more elaborate tiered styles, which involve gathering the hair into a large bun. A long hair pin featuring a dragon’s head decorated the hairstyle. Some Korean brides also choose to wear a crown or black cap embellished with jewels.
Accessories
On her wedding day, the Korean bride wears minimal makeup. However, she will have three red circles painted on her face, one on each cheek and one on her forehead. According to WeddingsAtWork.com, these small red circles are meant to “ward off evil spirits.” Korean brides wear white socks and silk shoes. These shoes, which resemble the shape of a boat, feature elaborately embroidered designs in rich colors.
Groom's Dress
The Korean groom wears three main articles of clothing: the paji, cheogori and dalryeongp’o. His pants, the paji, feature wide, baggy legs. Two strips of cloth tie the pant legs around the ankles, ensuring the pants remain inside the boots. The groom’s shirt, the cheogori, has loose sleeves and typically falls to the waist or slightly below. The dalryeongp’o is the groom’s jacket, which he wears over the shirt and pants. The jacket is traditionally colored blue or maroon with an intricate embroidery of two cranes near the middle of the chest. A belt is worn over the jacket to keep it in place. The groom wears a simple pair of black cloth boots, known as Mokwha.